Minister under fire over release of bomber

SCOTLAND’S Justice Secretary faced a barrage of criticism yesterday as he explained why he freed the Lockerbie bomber.

Kenny MacAskill came under fire from Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Tories after a 20-minute statement to the Scottish Parliament setting out his reasons for releasing Abdelbaset Ali Al Megrahi who is dying from prostate cancer.

But he insisted the controversial move, which caused outrage in the US, was the correct decision.